BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN

Jensen Ackles keeps the engine running on the Supernatural universe with this 1970s-set prequel series about Dean and Sam Winchester's demon-slaying parents

- ILEANE RUDOLPH

SUPERNATURAL FANS CAN now rejoice. We know you've been missing TV's longest-running fantasy series, but good news: There's plenty of monster hunting, road-tripping, rock 'n' roll, sarcastic quips and guest stars from the mothership ahead as the cult horror show prepares to welcome a new prequel, The Winchesters, to the massively beloved SPN universe.

And it's in great hands. Jensen Ackles, SPN's beer-swilling demon hunter Dean Winchester, older brother to Jared Padalecki's bookish Sam, is executive producing, alongside his wife, Danneel (SPN angel Sister Jo), and SPN producer Robbie Thompson. Ackles notes that the "winning formula" for a great Supernatural series, however, goes deeper than the detailsit's about family and love. "All the demons and the car and the music and the dark alleys are great and fun, but [in Supernatural] it's all being painted on the canvas of the relationship of the two brothers." And for The Winchesters, he adds, "we're definitely trying to make [a central relationship] the engine of the show."

But instead of Sam and Dean, we're driving into 1972 to meet the younger version of their badass parents-Vietnam War veteran John Winchester (Drake Rodger) and trained demon hunter Mary Campbell (American Housewife's Meg Donnelly)-before they fell in love.